7/11 blasts trial begins, 1st witness

Mumbai, Dec 18 (UNI) The trial in last year's 7/11 serial train bomb blasts case began in the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court here today, with the court examining the first witness.

The bomb blasts, that occurred on seven suburban trains of the Western Railway within a span of few minutes, killed 186 people and left at least 800 injured.

Prosecution has filed a chargesheet against total 28 people. Of them, 15 are believed to have fled to Pakistan, while the remaining 13 are facing trial.

The prosecution examined a police officer who was the complainant in the Borivali train blast, while defence counsel Adv Rizvan Merchant cross-examined him as 'amicus curiae' (who was appointed by the court to represent accused persons).

After the examination, MCOCA Judge Mridula Bhatkar adjourned the matter till Thursday.

Earlier, the trial was delayed as several accused moved applications, including one seeking the transfer of MCOCA Judge M R Bhatkar who is presiding over the trial of the case, saying they did not have faith in his court. However, their transfer application was rejected by the Bombay High Court.

UNI